Disgraced MP Andrew Falloon has quit Parliament – effective immediately – after his boss Judith Collins called for his resignation this morning and allegations of more sexually explicit messages were revealed.
Collins was scathing of Falloon on Newstalk ZB this morning, saying that the explanation he offered up in his defence in the case of the first young woman was "clearly a lie" and she had "lost all confidence" in him.
It is understood the now-former Rangitata MP's versions of events is that he was at a party several weeks ago and briefly left his phone unattended at a party — and acquaintances then used it to send the sexual image in question.
Collins told ZB she did not believe this.
"This has gone from clearly what was stated as a mistake, to now being something quite different."
Just moments before she went to air on Newstalk ZB, she said she had received an email from Falloon – also addressed to Speaker Trevor Mallard – advising the pair of his resignation.
He announced yesterday he was quitting politics at the election, which would have meant he would have been paid until then.
Collins told ZB she could "no longer trust his story".
"I believe better for him, better for the young woman who is my first priority, and for Parliament, that he resigns."
Falloon's email this morning came after "fresh allegations" that another sexually inappropriate message had been sent to a young woman.
The woman at the centre of this latest claim is not a teenager and did not get her parents involved, unlike the first case.
The National leader said when she spoke to Falloon yesterday, he did not disclose any other instances which occurred, beyond the one which made headlines last night.
She called on anyone who might have received similar messages from Falloon to come forward and "we will take action".
Collins said this was "absolutely out of the blue".
"Although it now appears that some people were aware that he abused alcohol."
She had "never seen that because I was too busy doing my work".
But the issue of heavy drinking among MPs would be raised this morning in caucus, she said.
Collins told Newstalk ZB she was initially concerned about Falloon's mental wellbeing and made sure he returned home safely. "But I'm now of the view he made the right decision this morning to resign from Parliament," she said.
She had written to the first woman who received the inappropriate sex image, giving her an undertaking her privacy would be protected and if anything leaked out, that person would be sacked.
She sought a similar undertaking from the Prime Minister's office. The PM's office said it had acted appropriately and nothing had been leaked from its office.
Collins said that the story that someone grabbed Falloon's phone during a party and sent the material to the first young woman was "clearly a lie".
Despite the salacious nature of the scandal she did not think it damaged her own reputation. She said she would not tolerate this level of behaviour from National Party politicians.
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